Marine craft fuel alert system

Abstract

A marine craft fuel alert system is operative during a given time period, to compare actual fuel capacity measurements with selected fuel tank capacity reference values, to permit timely intervention. Used with a relatively high reference value and operative during fuel loading, the system and methodology gives a warning to a fuel input agent (i.e., person controlling fuel loading) in sufficient time for the agent to terminate fuel loading and prevent environmental pollution by fuel overfill spillage. Conversely, the system and methodology, with appropriate modifications, can be used to sense and warn of predetermined low fuel level conditions. The system can be integrally incorporated into an original equipment marine craft system or retrofit thereto. Electrical interconnections may extend to marine craft ignition system interdiction during operation of the fuel loading monitoring and warning.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An anti-overflow fuel alert system for use with a fuel tank system having a fuel tank and a power source, comprising: a detecting device operatively connected to the fuel tank system to directly detect an actual level of fuel within said fuel tank and generate an actual fuel level signal corresponding thereto;   a control device operatively in communication with said detecting device to receive said actual fuel level signal and connected to the power source, said control device controlling the operating period of said anti-overflow fuel alert system and controlling power flow from the power source to said anti-overflow fuel alert system;   an adjustable reference fuel level input device configured with said control device for inputting an adjustable desired fuel level reference signal to said control device, said adjustable fuel level reference signal corresponding to a fuel level within a detecting range of said detecting device, said control device comparing said desired fuel level reference signal to said actual fuel level signal from said detecting device; and   a warning device operatively connected to said control device, said warning device issuing a warning, responsively to said control device, whenever said actual fuel level exceeds said desired fuel level reference during said operating period.   
     
     
       2. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 1, wherein said control device is comprised of: a timing mechanism initiated by the fuel input agent for conducting a timing period thereof; and   a switching mechanism, triggered during said timing period of said timing mechanism, for connecting the power source to said detecting device.   
     
     
       3. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 1 wherein: said control device includes a timing mechanism initiated by a fuel input agent, said timing mechanism conducting a timing period thereof, and a switching mechanism, connected to said timing mechanism and triggered during said timing period, said timing mechanism connecting the power source to predetermined other elements of the anti-overflow fuel alert system;   wherein said detecting device includes a reference mechanism, said reference mechanism establishing an adjustable reference level, selected by the fuel-input agent, corresponding to a predetermined fuel level in the fuel tank; and   a comparing mechanism operatively connected to said reference mechanism, said comparing mechanism comparing said reference level with the actual fuel level in the fuel tank and detecting whenever the fuel level exceeds the reference level.   
     
     
       4. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 3, wherein said comparing mechanism is electrically connected with an existing fuel gauge arrangement of a marine craft so as to receive an output voltage level corresponding to the actual fuel level in the fuel tank from such fuel gauge arrangement. 
     
     
       5. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 1, wherein said detecting range is within about eighty percent to about one hundred percent of the capacity of the fuel tank. 
     
     
       6. An anti-overflow fuel alert system capable of retrofit into an existing fuel detection system of the type having an existing power source, an existing fuel gauge, and a separately existing ignition device, comprising: control means for controlling an operating period of said anti-overflow fuel alert system and for controlling power flow from an external power source to said anti-overflow fuel alert system, said control means including timing means initiated by a fuel input agent for conducting a timing period thereof; first switching means, triggered during said timing period of said timing means, for connecting when triggered an existing power source to an existing fuel gauge independently of an existing ignition device; and second switching means, triggered during said timing period of said timing means, for connecting when triggered an existing power source to predetermined other elements of said anti-overflow fuel alert system downstream from said relay;   detecting means for detecting whenever an external fuel tank level exceeds a predetermined level, said detecting means being comprised of reference means for establishing a selectable reference level, selected by the fuel-input agent, corresponding to a predetermined fuel level in an external fuel tank; and comparing means for comparing said reference level with the actual fuel level in such external tank, as determined by an existing fuel level detection device, and detecting whenever the actual fuel level exceeds said reference level; and   warning means, responsive to said control means and said detecting means, for issuing a warning whenever said detecting means indicates that said fuel level in the external fuel tank has exceeded said reference level.   
     
     
       7. An anti-overflow fuel alert system capable of retrofit into an existing fuel gauge arrangement using an existing fuel tank float device that generates an output voltage level in correspondence with the amount of fuel in the fuel tank, comprising: a comparator circuit generating an output signal whenever the output voltage level exceeds an adjustable reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined fuel level of the fuel tank;   an adjustable reference fuel level input device configured with said comparator circuit for inputting the adjustable reference voltage to said comparator circuit;   a warning device operatively connected to said comparator circuit, said warning device issuing a warning, responsively to said output signal from said comparator circuit; and   a control circuit operatively in communication with said detecting device and triggered by a fuel input agent for controlling the power flow, for a predetermined time period, from an external power source to said comparator circuit and to the existing fuel gauge arrangement independently of existing ignition devices.   
     
     
       8. An anti-overflow full alert system as in claim 7, wherein said control circuit comprises: a timing mechanism triggered by the fuel input agent and generating an output signal during said predetermined time period;   a first switching mechanism, triggered by said output signal from said timing mechanism, for controlling the power flow, for said predetermined time period, from the external power source to the existing fuel gauge arrangement independently of existing ignition devices; and   a second switching mechanism, triggered by said output signal from said timing mechanism, for controlling the power flow, for said predetermined time period, from the external power source to said comparator circuit independently of existing ignition devices.   
     
     
       9. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 8, wherein said control circuit is further operative for controlling the power flow from the external power source to said warning device. 
     
     
       10. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 8, wherein said first switching mechanism is electrically connected between an existing ignition device of a marine craft and an existing fuel gauge arrangement of such marine craft. 
     
     
       11. An anti-overflow fuel alert system capable of retrofit into an existing fuel gauge arrangement using a fuel tank float device that generates an output voltage level, said system comprising: reference means for generating a reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the capacity of a fuel tank and capable of adjustment by a fuel input agent;   comparing means for comparing said reference voltage with the output voltage level and generating an output signal whenever such output voltage level exceeds said reference voltage;   warning means for issuing a warning upon receiving said output signal from said comparing means;   timing means, actuatable by the fuel input agent for generating an output signal for a predetermined time period;   first switching means, actuated by said output signal from said timing means, for controlling the power flow from the external power source to the existing fuel gauge arrangement independently of existing ignition devices, for said predetermined time period; and   second switching means, actuated by said output signal from said timing means, for controlling the power flow from the external power source to said comparator circuit independently of existing ignition devices, for said predetermined time period.   
     
     
       12. An anti-overflow fuel alert system of claim 11, wherein said second switching means is operative for controlling power flow from the external power source to said warning means. 
     
     
       13. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 11, wherein said predetermined percentage of the capacity of the fuel tank is generally within a range of from about eighty percent to about one hundred percent. 
     
     
       14. An anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 11, wherein said first switching means is electrically connected between an existing ignition device of a marine craft and the existing fuel gauge arrangement thereof, and wherein said comparing means is electrically connected with the existing fuel gauge arrangement of such marine craft so as to receive the output voltage level from such fuel gauge arrangement. 
     
     
       15. A marine craft anti-overflow fuel alert system, comprising: a power source;   a fuel gauge arrangement comprised of a fuel gauge and a fuel level detecting device generating a signal to said fuel gauge corresponding to the fuel level in a fuel tank of such marine craft;   a comparator circuit generating an output signal whenever said signal from said fuel gauge arrangement exceeds an adjustable reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined fuel level of such fuel tank;   an adjustable reference fuel level input device configured with said comparator circuit for inputting the adjustable reference voltage to said comparator circuit;   a warning device activated by said output signal from said comparator circuit, for issuing a warning;   an ignition device, for an engine of the marine craft, electrically connected between said power source and said fuel gauge arrangement; and   a control circuit, triggered by a fuel input agent, for controlling, for a predetermined time period, the power flow from said power source to said comparator circuit and to said fuel gauge arrangement independently of said ignition device, for safe fueling of the marine craft fuel tank without operation of said ignition device.   
     
     
       16. A marine craft anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 15, wherein said control circuit is comprised of: a timing mechanism, actuatable by said fuel input agent, for generating an output signal during said predetermined time period;   a first switching mechanism, triggered by said output signal from said timing mechanism, for controlling the power flow, for said predetermined time period, from said power source to said fuel gauge arrangement independently of said ignition device; and   a second switching mechanism, triggered by said output signal from said timing mechanism, for controlling the power flow, for said predetermined time period, from said power source to said comparator circuit independently of said ignition device.   
     
     
       17. A marine craft anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 16, wherein said control circuit is operative for controlling the power flow from said power source to said warning means. 
     
     
       18. A marine craft anti-overflow fuel alert system, comprising: a power source;   a fuel gauge arrangement comprised of a fuel gauge and a fuel level detecting device generating a signal to said fuel gauge corresponding to the fuel level in a fuel tank of such marine craft;   reference means for generating a reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the capacity of such fuel tank and capable of adjustment by a fuel input agent;   comparing means for comparing said reference voltage with said signal from said fuel level detecting means and for generating an output signal whenever said signal exceeds said reference voltage;   warning means activated by said output signal from said comparing means, for issuing a warning;   an ignition device, for an engine of the marine craft, electrically connected between said power source and said fuel gauge arrangement;   timing means, actuatable by the fuel input agent, for generating an output signal for a predetermined time period;   first switching means, triggered by said output signal from said timing means, for controlling the power flow, for said predetermined time period, from said power source to said fuel gauge arrangement independently of said ignition device; and   second switching means, triggered by said output signal from said timing means, for controlling the power flow, for said predetermined time period, from said power source to said comparing means and said reference means independently of said ignition device.   
     
     
       19. A marine craft anti-overflow fuel alert system as in claim 18, wherein said second switching means is operative for controlling the power flow from said power source to said warning means.